Derry: We Knew It Would Be A Year Of Transition

Notts County Manager Shaun Derry is looking forward to this weekend’s Sky Bet League 1 game away to Fleetwood Town.

A strong performance, particularly in the second half, against high-flying Sheffield United went unrewarded in midweek as Derry saw his side suffer a disappointing 2-1 defeat.

However, the Notts boss believes his side are starting to look more settled after a season of change and gradual progression and is hoping that they can reproduce the kind of display that they showed on Tuesday evening.

“I’ve said a few weeks ago, it’s been a season where we’ve had perhaps two or three squads; the start of the season, the first loan window opening and now the second window opening as well,” Derry told the assembled media.

“We always knew that was going to be the case because me and Greg sat there in pre-season and we knew that this was a year of transition and that’s what it’s proved to be, but along the way there’s been many positives.

“Unearthing gems like Curtis Thompson, that’s a high point for us, as well as some low points as well. The low points being that we’ve not managed to get a fluency in our play, especially at home.

“I’d love us to be able to get the three points at Meadow Lane because that’s where our large chunk of fans come and watch us, but I’m hoping that they’ve seen, especially in the last two home performances, that there’s been a lot of positives.”

Notts were on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat when these two sides met at the start of the season and Derry admitted that he was disappointed with his side’s performance that day, but is hoping that they have come a long way since then.

“I was disappointed with the first home game of the season,” he added. “You want to start your season showing the fans that you’re all together and you mean business and on that particular afternoon we let ourselves down.

“But I think if you were to ask any Manager at our level and say have you had any disappointing days, I think all 24 would say that they have, but that was a while back and we’ve had some good times since then and we responded very well in the next game, so I’m looking forward to this game.”

As he prepares to go up against another young Manager in Fleetwood’s Graham Alexander, Derry feels that his opposite number can be very proud of what he has achieved at the club and can relate to the task that he has in establishing himself at this level.

“I think if you were to ask any Fleetwood fan if they’ve been happy with this season, I think they’d all be saying yes, because of where they were last year in League Two and they’ve done remarkably well to win in the play-off finals,” added the Notts boss.

“Graham will be delighted with his side. He’s another good young Manager who’s trying to stake his claim at this level, so I know where he is in that one, it’s difficult to get that fluency and reliability in performances.”

Subscribers can watch the full pre-match media session with Shaun Derry on Magpie Player.